Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-AMR-LVG-SFB General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

1 index
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

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Evidence & Context

A target value of approximately 1.0 is proposed. An F:B ratio of 1.0 represents a state of parity, where fungal biomass is equal to bacterial biomass.

Metric Definition:

Fungal:Bacterial ratio as the ratio of fungal biomass to bacterial biomass in soil microbial communities.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the balance between fungal and bacterial biomass in soil microbial communities in arid mountain grazing lands, indicating a transition from bacterial dominance to a balanced microbial system.

Justification:

This value is a synthesized proxy benchmark due to the absence of direct empirical data for the specific biome and land use, representing a transition from bacterial dominance to a balanced fungal-bacterial system.

Sources (2)

Preview of Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025 GreyLiterature

Fungal/bacterial ratios in grasslands with contrasting nitrogen management - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie
Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie
View Source

Supporting Sources (32)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Climate and Biodiversity Credentials for Australian Grass-Fed Beef: A Review of Standards, Certification and Assurance Schemes - ResearchGate, accessed July 29, 2025
(PDF) Climate and Biodiversity Credentials for Australian Grass-Fed Beef: A Review of Standards, Certification and Assurance Schemes - ResearchGate, accessed July 29, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Introducing BASE: the Biomes of Australian Soil Environments soil microbial diversity database - La Trobe, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
(PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

section 2 water quality in the darwin region - Environment and Natural Resources

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Preview of (PDF) Management Practices of Pasture, Range and Grazing Reserves for Livestock Production in the Tropics: A Review - ResearchGate, accessed July 29, 2025
(PDF) Management Practices of Pasture, Range and Grazing Reserves for Livestock Production in the Tropics: A Review - ResearchGate, accessed July 29, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grazing Intensity Modifies Soil Microbial Diversity and Their Co-Occurrence Networks in an Alpine Steppe, Central Tibet, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of (PDF) The measurement of soil fungal:bacterial biomass ratios as an ..., accessed July 19, 2025,
(PDF) The measurement of soil fungal:bacterial biomass ratios as an ..., accessed July 19, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

Soil microbial community composition under Eucalyptus plantations of different age in subtropical China - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient ... - Arid Ecology Lab, accessed August 3, 2025
Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient ... - Arid Ecology Lab, accessed August 3, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France | mSphere, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

How should we manage our soils to increase soil carbon?, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Australian Microbiome - Bioplatforms Australia
Australian Microbiome - Bioplatforms Australia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australian Microbiome - Bioplatforms Australia, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io, accessed July 30, 2025,
Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australian Soils and Landscapes | Monitoring & Data | TERN - esoil.io

View Source
Preview of Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France | mSphere, accessed July 28, 2025
Biogeographical patterns of the soil fungal:bacterial ratio across France | mSphere, accessed July 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling - Frontiers, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Bioplatforms Australia Data Portal User Support, accessed July 29, 2025
Bioplatforms Australia Data Portal User Support, accessed July 29, 2025
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Bioplatforms Australia Data Portal User Support, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Climate and Biodiversity Credentials for Australian Grass-Fed Beef: A Review of Standards, Certification and Assurance Schemes - MDPI, accessed July 29, 2025
Climate and Biodiversity Credentials for Australian Grass-Fed Beef: A Review of Standards, Certification and Assurance Schemes - MDPI, accessed July 29, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Climate and Biodiversity Credentials for Australian Grass-Fed Beef: A Review of Standards, Certification and Assurance Schemes - MDPI, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Developing a Grazing System for Arid Climates | New Mexico State University, accessed July 29, 2025
Developing a Grazing System for Arid Climates | New Mexico State University, accessed July 29, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Developing a Grazing System for Arid Climates | New Mexico State University, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Effects of grazing and fire management on rangeland soil and biocrust microbiomes, accessed July 29, 2025
Effects of grazing and fire management on rangeland soil and biocrust microbiomes, accessed July 29, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

How grazing management influences biocrust community composition in the Northern Territory rangelands - ResearchGate, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Effects of Grazing Intensity on Soil Bacterial and Fungal Community Structure in Grasslands, accessed July 29, 2025
Effects of Grazing Intensity on Soil Bacterial and Fungal Community Structure in Grasslands, accessed July 29, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Effects of Grazing Intensity on Soil Bacterial and Fungal Community Structure in Grasslands, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Fungal to Bacterial Ratios: What and Why? - Ward Laboratories, Inc., accessed July 29, 2025
Fungal to Bacterial Ratios: What and Why? - Ward Laboratories, Inc., accessed July 29, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Fungal to Bacterial Ratios: What and Why? - Ward Laboratories, Inc., accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of grazing impacts on the spatial distribution of soil microbial biomass around tussock grasses in a tropical grassland - Publication : USDA ARS
grazing impacts on the spatial distribution of soil microbial biomass around tussock grasses in a tropical grassland - Publication : USDA ARS
Contextual Support Journal

grazing impacts on the spatial distribution of soil microbial biomass around tussock grasses in a tropical grassland - Publication : USDA ARS

View Source
Preview of Grazing Intensity Modifies Soil Microbial Diversity and Their Co-Occurrence Networks in an Alpine Steppe, Central Tibet, accessed on June 5, 2025
Grazing Intensity Modifies Soil Microbial Diversity and Their Co-Occurrence Networks in an Alpine Steppe, Central Tibet, accessed on June 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie, accessed July 29, 2025
Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie, accessed July 29, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie, accessed May 12, 2025
Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie, accessed May 12, 2025
Direct Evidence

Adaptive multi-paddock grazing management's influence on soil food web community structure for: increasing pasture forage production, soil organic carbon, and reducing soil respiration rates in southeastern USA ranches, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Grazing Regulates Changes in Soil Microbial Communities in Plant-Soil Systems - MDPI
Grazing Regulates Changes in Soil Microbial Communities in Plant-Soil Systems - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Drought decreases incorporation of recent plant photosynthate into soil food webs regardless of their trophic complexity - PMC, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed July 29, 2025
How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers, accessed July 29, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Adaptive multi-paddock grazing increases soil nutrient availability and bacteria to fungi ratio in grassland soils | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Impact of Rocky Desertification Control on Soil Bacterial Community in Karst Graben Basin, Southwestern China - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,
Impact of Rocky Desertification Control on Soil Bacterial Community in Karst Graben Basin, Southwestern China - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Aridity Threshold Induces Abrupt Change of Soil Abundant and Rare Bacterial Biogeography in Dryland Ecosystems - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Ingham, E. R. (Various publications and resources, e.g., USDA NCRS Soil Biology Primer, Soil Foodweb Inc. materials)..4
Ingham, E. R. (Various publications and resources, e.g., USDA NCRS Soil Biology Primer, Soil Foodweb Inc. materials)..4
Contextual Support Journal

Are Fungal to Bacterial Ratios (F:B Ratio) Important for Plant Growth? - Garden Myths

View Source
Preview of Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed August 9, 2025
Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Introducing BASE: the Biomes of Australian Soil Environments soil microbial diversity database - La Trobe, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Mapping Australia's soil biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed August 5, 2025,
Mapping Australia's soil biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

TERN Surveillance monitoring program: Soil vis-NIR spectral library with accompanying soil measurement data for 367 specimens - CSIRO Data Access Portal

View Source
Preview of Microbial community composition and activity in paired irrigated and non-irrigated pastures in New Zealand - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025
Microbial community composition and activity in paired irrigated and non-irrigated pastures in New Zealand - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Microbial community composition and activity in paired irrigated and non-irrigated pastures in New Zealand - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Microbial impact on initial soil formation in arid and semiarid environments under simulated climate change - Frontiers, accessed August 3, 2025
Microbial impact on initial soil formation in arid and semiarid environments under simulated climate change - Frontiers, accessed August 3, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Aridity differentially alters the stability of soil bacterial and fungal networks in coastal and inland areas of Australia - PMC, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of ResearchOnline@JCU - James Cook University, accessed on June 7, 2025
ResearchOnline@JCU - James Cook University, accessed on June 7, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Variation in soil microbial biomass in the dry tropics: impact of land-use change

View Source
Preview of Shifts in floristic composition and structure in Australian rangelands | PLOS One, accessed July 15, 2025
Shifts in floristic composition and structure in Australian rangelands | PLOS One, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support

Shifts in floristic composition and structure in Australian rangelands | PLOS One, accessed July 29, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon ... - Frontiers, accessed July 18, 2025
Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon ... - Frontiers, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

How Biodiversity-Friendly Is Regenerative Grazing? - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Soil Health | Natural Resources Conservation Service - USDA, accessed May 13, 2025,
Soil Health | Natural Resources Conservation Service - USDA, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have ..., accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil microbiome and biodiversity implications – are we ignoring cost-effective proxies of biodiversity measures? | TERN Australia, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Soil microbiome and biodiversity implications – are we ignoring cost-effective proxies of biodiversity measures? | TERN Australia, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Environment Monitoring Systems & Data for Ecosystem Studies ...

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 8 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 0.3 index. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Values consistently below 0.3-0.5 indicate degraded, highly disturbed systems with impaired nutrient cycling and potential for nitrogen leaching. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.